Originally Posted by
leland
- Both itineraries are on "Hold" but I'm able to select seats so safe to assume no issue? Or should I be calling AS?
- In terms of booking a new itinerary, am I able to book a conflicting itinerary? Or will JAL do something undesirable like not allow the booking and cancel out my existing ticket (in Hold status)? I have enough points to book a few duplicates/options and then cancel the unneeded ones, but I'm unclear on the best way to avoid problems. Would appreciate very prescriptive advice here on the best process to follow to avoid issues, e.g. should I book my duplicate online then call to cancel the other, call to arrange a switch, other sites to check, etc. Again, what I really want to avoid is the scenario where I have to cancel out my flight first then book the second only to fail due to phantom availability, seat sniping, etc.
- Would it be the same process to follow if something changes like F opening on SFO-HND on the same dates I'm flying versus changing dates or does the "edit" process have some variance?
- The real dilemma... and likely O/T
Would you (or have you) traded an extra day of vacation with the S/O for a bucket list seat in F? My return takes me away from vacation a day earlier than desired, but in a bucket list F seat. I could match my partners TPAC flight (but not connections), but I'd be in J. Either way I'm in trouble as my partner paid cash for Y, but I'd be riding upfront. The alternative is that I don't change and I bail early to ride in F. And yeah, I suppose haven't really considered Y an option for me 
If anyone has prescriptive advice on this one I'm all ears 
Thanks for helping me navigate JAL award booking!
1. See several above. Should be fine and part of the known issues, but can always call JL and confirm that they see the status of your ticket correctly.
2/3. Easiest is just change your reservation online, both for routing or cabin changes. Since you're 75K, there's no change fee and you won't have to pay additional partner fees nor any danger of cancelling duplicate bookings. If there's phantom space, I don't think it will confirm and replace your flight.
If for some reason it won't confirm, just call in. I couldn't change one leg from J to F on a booking and the phone agent had to get a partner agent involved to do it. They ended up booking a brand new ticket for that leg, and refunded the old leg entirely. Luckily I had the miles in my account to cover the second ticket so made it easier.
Also keep in mind there are limits to the number of changes you can make to a ticket before it requires manual intervention. Best is to figure out what itinerary you want and make the change to that one.
4. Is your S/O ok with it? Or would they prefer to fly together? Keep in mind that in J without OWE/OWS status, you can't bring in a guest to the lounge unlike F.
If they're ok with it and you're ok with losing a day in Japan, I'd totally go for JAL First at least once.